Justin Charlton

About Me

After working in finance for fifteen years, I wanted a change and moved into education in 2007. In 2012 myself and a colleague were tasked with running a small sixth form college that had just received a disappointing Ofsted report, needed a lot of improvement. this was a great experience, we grew the student intake hugely and turned it into the destination choice in the competetive local area for students looking for educational excellence. I chose to leave in 2024, after the 6th form received an outstanding Ofsted report and also just after it was highlighted in the Times education supplement as being the 18th best venue for A-level performance in the UK.

The part of the sixth form job I always enjoyed the most, was when supporting our students through their UCAS and apprenticeship applications. I would see the majority of our 350 strong Y13 cohort myself and advise and guide them to the best of my ability. Years of helping gave me a huge knowledge of the national and international university market and also the employment and apprenticeship scene. Any information I gathered always stayed with me. I felt passionate about this area and I still spend a considerable amount of my own time researching and seeking potential opportunities and spotting university trends. I love the topic and always seek to learn more every week. In order to improve the experience of our students, I chose to gain level 6 qualification in careers and guidance, which I passed in early 2024.

Communicating with students is an honour and a pleasure. Thankfully, years of meeting hundreds of students each year has given me the tools to be prepared for any situation, and it's always my aim to provide a safe environment and a personalised and individual tailored meeting for each student. I love having a degree of expertise in the field of career guidance and I'm passionate about sharing it whenever I can.

After leaving my sixth form, after twelve years, in 2024, I was invited to help a small sixth form that had been put into special measures and would have to close, unless their situation drastically improved. Over the last academic year, I have run their sixth form and built an establishment of support and community. It resulted in an improved Ofsted rating of Good last year. One of my most satisfying achievements is that 100% of our Y13 students last year gained a place at university or on an apprenticeship. Recruitment to the sixth form also increased by 250%, which has put the sixth form in a safe position moving forward.

Whilst I have mainly dealt with sixth form students within career guidance, I have spent two days a week (since leaving my sixth form in 2024), offering a careers service at a couple local schools in East Yorkshire. I hold assemblies, teach PPD classes and offer one-on-one career guidance sessions for students from Y7 to Y11. This has taught me a lot and broadened my experience.

Now, with my current sixth form in a safe and financially sound position, I have made the decision to concentrate my role in the area that gives me the most satisfaction - career guidance. I am flexible on where employment opportunities take me, as I want to work with enthusiastic teams and provide a great service for you. I bring to the career role a huge back catalogue of educational experience, and as a result I'm confident in providing a wide ranging service of assemblies, lessons and parental meetings if required.